Chinese scrub vole
{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Chinese scrub vole
| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Neodon
| species = irene
| authority = (Thomas, 1911)
| synonyms =
}}
The Chinese scrub vole, or Irene's mountain vole, (Neodon irene) is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is endemic to mountainous parts of southern China and is very similar to the Sikkim mountain vole in appearance. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Description
The Chinese scrub vole has a head-and-body length of between {{convert|80|and|108|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} and a tail length of {{convert|22|to|40|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}. The dorsal fur is greyish-brown, the underparts are dark grey and there is an intermediate strip of ochre-brown where the two colours meet. The upper surface of both fore and hind feet are brownish-white and the tail is bicoloured, being brown above and white below. The Chinese scrub vole is very similar in appearance to the Sikkim mountain vole (Neodon sikimensis), but it is slightly smaller and the two can be distinguished by examination of their dentition.{{cite book|author1=Smith, Andrew T. |author2=Xie, Yan |author3=Hoffmann, Robert S. |author4=Lunde, Darrin |author5=MacKinnon, John |author6=Wilson, Don E. |author7= Wozencraft, W. Chris |title=A Guide to the Mammals of China |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ka-9f68nPT4C&pg=PA237 |year=2010 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-1-4008-3411-2 |page=237}}
Distribution and habitat
Behaviour
Status
The Chinese scrub vole has a wide range and is assumed to have a large total population. It is present in several national nature reserves. The population trend is unknown, but no specific threats have been identified and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
References
{{Reflist}}
- Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton. 2005. Superfamily Muroidea. pp. 894–1531 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
{{Arvicolinae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1764716}}
Category:Mammals described in 1911
Category:Taxa named by Oldfield Thomas